1928 Building Committee Meeting Ends in Frenzied Brick Talk and Rampant Acronyms
Farmington, CT – July 30, 2024
On the evening of July 30, 2024, the 1928 Building Committee gathered for their regularly scheduled gab fest. The meeting addressed everything from high school renovations to how many times you can say “aye” before it loses all meaning. Held at the Farmington Community Center, it kicked off at 7:00 PM with Committee Chair Ken Smith leading the Pledge of Allegiance for what felt like the fiftieth time.
High School Renovation Project: Breaking News and More Bureaucracy
The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the update on the high school renovation project. Chris Nigro, the architect from Silver Petrizzelli, shared the bombshell news that demolition of the old high school has begun. “Yes, it’s coming down,” he confirmed, crushing the dreams of anyone hoping to tour the building one last time. Nigro promised the committee that all necessary responses to the commissioning agent and third-party reviewer would be sent out within two days. This revelation sparked a heated debate about who got off the site and why.
Committee Member Lisa Carter inquired about site accessibility, recalling an incident where she was denied entry. Nigro clarified that the site is currently closed to the public to ensure safety and compliance with regulations. Committee Member Joe Anderson mentioned his recent experience of being asked to leave the site, emphasizing the need for clear communication about access restrictions.
Value Engineering: Not Just a Buzzword
Committee Member Dan Thompson, chair of the aptly named Value Engineering committee, presented a report with more jargon than a corporate retreat. Nigro mentioned several deducted alternates in the bid documents designed to save money without making the building look like IKEA put it together. The committee nodded sagely, pretending to understand terms like “deduct alternates” and “schedule alternates.”
Financial Report and Invoice Approvals: A Real Page-Turner
Committee Treasurer Mark Brown presented the financial report, which he assured was on track. The committee then approved several invoices, including:
- $15,038.25 to Silver Petrizzelli for doing something important.
- $11,182.50 to Colliers Engineering for, presumably, engineering something.
- $5,040.00 to Colliers Engineering for… more engineering?
Awarding the Site Work Contract: The Drama Continues
Committee Member Joe Anderson moved to award the site work contract to J.I. Feluccio for $1,325,000, which is exactly $125,000 more than anyone wanted to pay. The committee discussed this at length, with everyone agreeing that keeping the same contractor for both the high school and site work made sense, mostly because it was easier than finding someone new. Committee Member Dan Thompson emphasized the benefits of continuity and coordination, given that J.I. Feluccio is already familiar with the site from the high school project. After a thorough discussion, the motion was approved unanimously.
New Business: More Documents, More Fun
Chris Nigro then presented the final plans and project manuals for the renovation, including over 460 pages of documents. The committee nodded along as Nigro described structural, architectural, and technical specifications, clearly thrilled at the prospect of reading through them all. The bid package is set to go out on August 2nd, with a pre-bid walkthrough scheduled for August 16th. Bids will be opened on September 10th, and the committee will award the bid on September 17th, just in time for everyone to forget what they were talking about.
Committee Member Lisa Carter asked if the committee members could attend the pre-bid walkthrough, to which Nigro responded, “Sure, if you really want to.”
Other Business: An Invoice We Almost Forgot
In the “Oops, We Forgot” category, the committee approved an invoice from Innovative Engineering Services for $437.46. Committee Member Mark Brown confirmed it was thoroughly reviewed, which likely involved a lot of nodding and stamping.
Committee Member Sarah Johnson requested an update on the commemorative brick fundraising initiative. Chair Ken Smith proudly announced that over 200 bricks had been ordered, and the initiative was mentioned in the upcoming newsletter. “Because nothing says progress like selling bricks,” he quipped.
Adjournment: Let’s Get Out of Here
The meeting finally concluded at 9:45 PM with a motion for adjournment by Committee Member Joe Anderson, seconded by Committee Member Lisa Carter. The motion passed unanimously, as everyone had run out of things to say.
This article is brought to you by Farmington Storage, located at 155 Scott Swamp Road. For all your storage needs, give them a call at 860-777-4001. They’re the real heroes here, folks.
For more detailed information on the meeting and ongoing updates about Farmington, visit the We Are Farmington website. If you dare.
-JB-
Stay Informed with The Farmington Mercury
Don’t miss a beat this election season! Follow all of our Election 2024 coverage here and stay up-to-date with the latest news, insights, and analysis.
Want more in-depth stories delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here for exclusive content, interviews, and updates.
Stay informed. Stay engaged. Stay connected with The Farmington Mercury.
